Nanotoxicity of TiO₂ nanoparticles to erythrocyte in vitro

Author:

Shi-Qiang Li   Rong-Rong Zhu   Hong Zhu   Meng Xue   Xiao-Yu Sun   Si-De Yao   Shi-Long Wang  

Journal:

Food and Chemical Toxicology

Issue Date:

2008

Abstract(summary):

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has been considered as non-toxic mineral particles widely used in the fields like cosmetics, food and drug. When the scale come to nanometer, TiO₂ nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂) exhibits multiple specific characteristics coupled with unknown risks on health. The purpose of this study was to systematically research the influence of nano-TiO₂ on erythrocyte. The results indicated that the erythrocytes treated with nano-TiO₂ underwent abnormal sedimentation, hemagglutination and dose dependent hemolysis, totally differing from those treated with micro-TiO₂. The ghost cells were firstly investigated by using ultra-thin cell section in the case under nano-TiO₂. The mechanism of such adverse effects is (1) the attachment around erythrocyte change the surface native properties and ultimately lead to hemoagglutination; (2) the content leak to the outside of erythrocyte through the breakage induced by both the nano-TiO₂ trans-membrane and the oxidative stress under nano-TiO₂. Our findings imply that nano-TiO₂ may have potential toxicity to human being health.

Page:

3626-3631